182 PLANNING AND PLANTING 



the self-watering type, having a reservoir com- 

 partment that needs filling only occasionally, and 

 supplying moisture underneath through sponges 

 in the bottom of the box. 



The plants generally used are, first of all, the 

 geranium, which is popular everywhere. For a 

 foliage plant the dracena is much in demand, its 

 graceful grass-like leaves growing to a height of 

 about twenty inches. Other suitable annual plants 

 are the petunia, which is a close second in popu- 

 larity to the geranium, also the ageratum, the 

 lobelia and the lantana, as well as the verbena 

 and) heliotrope, the dwarf nasturtium and sweet 

 alyssum, or a number of others that might be 

 mentioned, and many of these plants may easily 

 be raised from seed at a minimum expense. 



Trailing vines to droop down from the front of 

 the boxes will be needed to add just the right touch, 

 and for this purpose we have the vinca with its 

 charming foliage of green and white, the English 

 ivy and the wandering jew. 



Be very sure to see that the boxes have regular 

 watering, as to let them dry out even once might do 

 irreparable damage, also keep the soil about the 

 plants stirred up so that the plants will thrive, 

 and it will be well to feed them occasionally with 

 a little manure water or nitrate of soda dissolved, 

 a tablespoon to a gallon of water. 



Such porch and window boxes as here described 



